According to worldhunger.org, 66 million primary school-age children attend classes hungry across the developing world. The cost of malnourished children to the economic development of our own country is estimated at twenty to thirty billion dollars annually (Progress for Children: A Report Card on Nutrition, UNICEF, 2006).
Here are some of the effects of children who are undernourished or "food insecure" :
They are more likely to require hospitalization
They are at higher risk for chronic health conditions, such as anemia or asthma
They may have more frequent oral health problems
They may have a poorer physical quality of life, which may prevent them in turn from engaging fully in daily activities, such as school and interaction with peers
They are at higher risk for behavioral issues and social difficulties
They are at greater risk of truancy and school tardiness
When they are in school, they may be involved in behavior problems like fighting, hyperactivity, aggression, anxiety, mood swings, and bullying (FeedingAmerica.org).
Most of us know that good nutrition in the first three years of life is crucially important in a child's development. This is a time when cognitive function is forming, thus laying the foundation for future learning and growth. Yet, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, 15.8 million children under the age of 18 in the United States live in households where they don't get the food necessary for a healthy life.
In this country, we tend to believe that it is the parents' responsibility to feed their children, especially in that age you mentioned, one to three years. Two factors and are into that resulting in some children being improperly fed. Some parents don't care well for their children and it's hard for child welfare to intervene unless there is something serious. Other parents just don't have the financial means, even with food stamps, to feed their children properly. The widening gap between the rich and poor is exasperating this problem.
Eva is right in saying that school breakfast and lunch programs have done a lot for the poor children of this country providing low-cost or free meals. Unfortunately, some of those meal programs have become junk food. Currently there is a trend to change that back to more nutritious food. Head Start and other preschool programs can help by providing good nutrition at an earlier age. Unfortunately, those that want to reduce budgets and "keep government out of it," continue to reduce funds for programs that help preschool children.
Ron